Abstract
Background: Human herpesviruses (HHV)-6A, HHV-6B and HHV-7 are considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, a common neurological disorder. The objective of this study was to determine the association of roseoloviruses infection with epilepsy. Methods: 53 epilepsy patients and 104 ordinary blood donors were analyzed to determine presence of virus-specific antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence assay (IFA), genomic sequences, viral load and gene expression by polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and restriction analysis, HHV-6 protein expression by IFA and level of cytokines by ELISA. Results: Roseoloviruses genomic sequences in DNA samples from whole blood were found in 86.8% of patients versus 54.8% of controls and active infection was revealed only in patients with epilepsy (19.6% of roseolovirus-positive patients). Significantly higher viral load and more frequent gene expression was detected in patients compared to the controls. HHV-6-encoded protein expression was demonstrated in 53.3% of patients with previously detected HHV-6 DNA. Changes in level of cytokines were determined in patients with elevated viral load compared to the patients without elevated viral loads and to the controls. Conclusions: Results on frequent active HHV-6 and HHV-7 infection in epilepsy patient’ peripheral blood indicate on possible involvement of these viruses in the disease development.
Highlights
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disease characterized by recurring unprovoked seizures [1] due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain
No difference in the presence of anti-Human herpesviruses (HHV)-6 and anti-HHV-7 IgG class antibodies between epilepsy patients and control group individuals (78.8%, 82/104 and 81.7%, 85/104, respectively) was detected (p = 1.0)
Taking into account the fact that primary infection with these viruses mainly occurs in early childhood and IgM antibodies appear only during an active infection or for 2–3 months after an active infection, serologic assays currently used for the detection of HHV-6 and HHV-7 specific IgM class antibodies have limited usefulness in the management of adult infection and especially in detection of active beta-herpesvirus infection
Summary
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disease characterized by recurring unprovoked seizures [1] due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. It is characterized by the neurobiologic, cognitive, psychological and social consequences of this condition [2]. Results: Roseoloviruses genomic sequences in DNA samples from whole blood were found in 86.8% of patients versus 54.8% of controls and active infection was revealed only in patients with epilepsy (19.6% of roseolovirus-positive patients). Conclusions: Results on frequent active HHV-6 and HHV-7 infection in epilepsy patient’ peripheral blood indicate on possible involvement of these viruses in the disease development
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